Summary

With many of ATA’s goals in Haiti achieved, such as the increased presence of prominent international designers, celebrities, buyers and funders serving known craft centers in Haiti, ATA has decided to move its center of activity to Mirebalais, a poor agricultural region in the Central Plateau of the country. ATA has also expanded its focus from the renowned craft media of metal, papier-mâché, beading and stone to include raw materials based on locally abundant agricultural by-products and recyclable waste.

With the help of CDE and the expertise of Marie-Roberte Laurent, CEO of Moi Spa Ritual and president of Belzeb, Inc., a Haitian firm producing soaps and other botanicals for the international and Caribbean hotel market, ATA conducted a two-part soap-making workshops in Mirebalais with the participation of 15 women from May 13 to May 27 with the second part in July. Fleurette Dubuisson, artisan leader and most enterprising self-starter, allowed the workshops to take place in her backyard.

Accomplishments as of June 2013

• During the first workshop, seven different kinds of organic soaps made of hand pressed coconut oil, aloe, morenga (a local herb with medicinal attributes), vetiver, sour orange, millet and other locally grown ingredients were successfully produced and are currently in the drying process.
• Fleurette Dubuisson plans to imprint soaps with a picture of the Lady of Mount Carmel to sell to pilgrims at the Saut d’Eau religious festival in July.
• Six of the fifteen women are currently working on orders received by Belzeb at the Femme en Democratie craft show in Port au Prince
• Three women, Fleurette Dubuisson, Kettlye Cetoute Felix, and Estele Clervil are working hard to get funding to attend the ATA Market Readiness Program (MRP) at NY NOW in August 2013 to learn more about selling their products to US buyers and the process of exporting.
• The women were interviewed on a local radio show. TV coverage is scheduled for the second workshop.
• Through the training all fifteen women became expert professional soap-makers, capable to produce and sell soaps independently

Current Needs
• Funding for Fleurette, Kettlye and Estele to attend MRP in August

Project Lead in the US
Monika Steinberger
Director of Program Management and Development
monikas@creativelearning.org

Field Contact
Anne Pressoir, ATA Haiti Country Director, annepressoir@hotmail.com

Marie Roberte Laurent, President of Belzeb, ATA Haiti Project Director, lroberte@yahoo.com

Partners & Collaborators

ATA would like to recognize the Centre for Enterprise Development (CDE) for funding the two part workshops. For her knowledge and experience in producing soaps and other botanicals of Haiti, her help in leading the soap-making workshops and articulating a strategy for the women in rural communities, Marie-Roberte Laurent must be recognized for her contribution to the project. In the commercial arena, recognition needs to go Belzeb for their business linkage to local markets and hotel buyers.

Contributors
Centre for Enterprise Development
Belzeb, Inc.